- South Korea's active military has decreased by 20 per cent over the past six years and now stands at 450,000 troops.
- This decline is primarily due to the country's record-low birthrate of 0.75, leading to a critical shortage of enlistment-age men.
- The defence ministry reported a 50,000-soldier shortfall from the level deemed necessary for 2025 defence readiness, including a shortage of 21,000 non-commissioned officers.
- South Korea maintains compulsory military service as it remains technically at war with North Korea, which has an estimated 1.3 million active-duty soldiers.
- A recent study suggested South Korea needs a minimum of 500,000 troops to effectively repel a potential North Korean assault, warning of a "structurally difficult position to succeed in defence" without "decisive action".
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